Financed by the America for Bulgaria Foundation, the ICAB program promotes international collaboration between scholars from Bulgaria and the United States of America. The program provides up to $50,000 for archaeological and/or bioarchaeological research, including fieldwork, museum, and/or laboratory research, including archaeometry. We strongly encourage proposals from researchers interested in employing and developing innovative analytical techniques that will advance the scientific study of the human past. Projects which promise to provide opportunities for training undergraduate and graduate students are especially welcome. The program requires that Bulgarian and American researchers serve as co-Primary Investigators (PIs) on the grant, and it is expected that there will be substantial collaboration on the part of each team member. Requests for smaller projects are especially welcome. This program does not provide funds to support the following items: tuition for students obtaining degrees; travel or maintenance for children or spouses of researchers; research expenses incurred before the date of a grant; and general activities of other institutions or entities, including "overhead expenses" or "indirect costs."

The Bulgarian co-PI must have a master’s or doctoral degree and English proficiency, and hold a permanent position in a Bulgarian research institute, museum, or university. The American co-PI must have a doctoral degree from an accredited university and hold a position in an accredited US institution, or be an advanced doctoral student in an accredited university. American doctoral students are required to apply as senior personnel with their dissertation advisor and a Bulgarian counterpart as the Primary Investigators. Applications should be made through an institution to which the grant can be awarded, and which will assume financial oversight of the award. Applicants may submit more than one ICAB application per funding season.